2.3L ('83-'97) Can't get engine and transmission to mate.

[E.B.N.S]

Hey there just rebuilt my 2.3 and while trying to put the engine back in the truck I cant see the bolt holes to line up. The input shaft is installed and I was able to get the 2 main bolts threaded for some reason the 2 bottom bolts I can get to line up very confused about this.

 

[franklin2]

Get under the truck and eyeball the crack between the engine and the transmission. I am assuming it's still not quite together and there is still a crack or gap. Carefully eyeball it, and see if it's wider at the top or at the bottom. If it's wider at the bottom, loosen the bolts you have in there already as much as you dare without them coming out. Then take a jack and jack up the transmission and wiggle it around and see if it will go.

If the crack is wider at the top, then the rear of the engine needs to come down.

Is this a manual transmission? If it is, and no matter what you do you can't get it to line up, I had one like this once, and what finally made it go, I got my wife inside to push in on the clutch pedal while I wiggled it around and it suddenly when in.

 

[pjtoledo]

are you certain the torque converter is fully seated?

pics would help.

disclaimer, I'm not a vintage 2.3 guy, this is generic info.

 

[Blmpkn]

Did you try to wine em and/or dine em first?

 

[jomcan]

Hey there just rebuilt my 2.3 and while trying to put the engine back in the truck I cant see the bolt holes to line up. The input shaft is installed and I was able to get the 2 main bolts threaded for some reason the 2 bottom bolts I can get to line up very confused about this.

It takes me about 2 hours each time. Most frustrating thing in the world. Now I have 2 line up studs that I insert to help line up. They are just bolts that are too long for the job and I cut the heads off. They look to be about 3 inches long. They do help.

Get under the truck and eyeball the crack between the engine and the transmission. I am assuming it's still not quite together and there is still a crack or gap. Carefully eyeball it, and see if it's wider at the top or at the bottom. If it's wider at the bottom, loosen the bolts you have in there already as much as you dare without them coming out. Then take a jack and jack up the transmission and wiggle it around and see if it will go.

If the crack is wider at the top, then the rear of the engine needs to come down.

Is this a manual transmission? If it is, and no matter what you do you can't get it to line up, I had one like this once, and what finally made it go, I got my wife inside to push in on the clutch pedal while I wiggled it around and it suddenly when in.

Yup suddenly it went in. That has been my experience and I'm on at least my 4th time re/re ing the trans. Some times it takes hours.

 

[jomcan]

This may be the best place to ask my question. I have messed up organizing things and have no idea where the wiring hangers go. Can anybody provide a photo of the right position. 2.3 liter standard 2002 ranger

 

[jomcan]

I have made 2 dowells for lining up. Bought long bolts cut the head end off. slotted them so i can take them out later. They really help. I am just about to use them again today but have to give my back a rest. Have the trans(standard) on a jack and just ready to slip it in OR fight with it for 2 hours until it just desires

It takes me about 2 hours each time. Most frustrating thing in the world. Now I have 2 line up studs that I insert to help line up. They are just bolts that are too long for the job and I cut the heads off. They look to be about 3 inches long. They do help.

Yup suddenly it went in. That has been my experience and I'm on at least my 4th time re/re ing the trans. Some times it takes hours.

on its own to go together.

 

[jomcan]

This may be the best place to ask my question. I have messed up organizing things and have no idea where the wiring hangers go. Can anybody provide a photo of the right position. 2.3 liter standard 2002 ranger

 

[Brain75]

Not an auto trans guy and I know there are extra complications with the torque converter and all that, but generically speaking even the extra long guide dowels / bolts w/o heads didn't help me getting my T5 mated - the thing that did it was to put a super long tapered punch in one and a bolt caught on 2 threads on the opposite position (not just 2 at bottom but diametrically opposite side) wiggle the punch around and get the girlfriend to push in on the clutch and pop it went all together almost completely finished tiny wiggle more to get it perfect and you can put all the rest of the bolts in.

 

[E.B.N.S]

Thanks for all the responses. So my issue wasn't getting the line up bolts lined up that was easy probably because I have a manual transmission. My bottom two bolts to pair the oil pan and transmission together would not line up and after pulling the engine and transmission out all together 2 times I figured out the oil pan gasket I used was to thick. So yea a oil pan gasket caused me that much pain. Be careful and make sure to compare ur gaskets.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Thanks for all the responses. So my issue wasn't getting the line up bolts lined up that was easy probably because I have a manual transmission. My bottom two bolts to pair the oil pan and transmission together would not line up and after pulling the engine and transmission out all together 2 times I figured out the oil pan gasket I used was to thick. So yea a oil pan gasket caused me that much pain. Be careful and make sure to compare ur gaskets.

Thanks for posting the fix.